news
KBBG partnership with CIH sees reception refurbishment
Hughes Electrical sets up new department to help boost growth
H
ughes Electrical has announced that it has set up a new contracts department. The new department, which the business believes will help with its ambitious growth plans, is managed by Mark Sparrow who is supported by Jodie Hepplethwaite, and they can also call on the experience of Hughes Trade general manager Paul Chisnall when required. Mark commented: “As the company grows, geographically, through acquisition, opening new branches and in the number of products we can offer, so does our ability to successfully service large contracts. “Therefore, we thought it was time to invest in a new department
T
he partnership between the Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group (KBBG) and Combined Independents (Holdings) Ltd. (CIH) has
seen a complete refurbishment of the CIH reception, at the head office in Andover, with two Noltë kitchen furniture displays. The Noltë kitchens comprise of a selection of furniture colours and
finishes. The larger of the two displays is finished in Feel White, mixed with Artwood Rustic Wild Oak, and is the focus of the new reception area. The second display is finished in Ocean Blue, for a contemporary and on-trend feel chosen to harmonise with the Euronics branding, the companies say. KBBG managing director Bill Miller explained: “Independent electrical
retailers are faced with challenging market conditions. Fitted kitchens provide independent electrical retailers with a tremendous business opportunity, and the unique partnership between CIH and KBBG assists CIH members to successfully enter the market with relative ease. “The majority of kitchen furniture sales are completed in traditional
bricks and mortar showrooms, meaning the independent retailer continues to be a great place for consumers to buy a kitchen. Through our partnership with CIH, members are given a tremendous opportunity, with comprehensive support, to grow and progress their business into the retailing of fitted kitchens.” Combined Independents (Holdings) Ltd chief executive Stuart Cook
added: “The installation of the Noltë kitchens in the CIH reception demonstrates our commitment to the unique partnership we have with KBBG. CIH is dedicated to supporting its members, as the independent electrical retail market can be challenging, and we are delighted to provide our members with the tools and support needed to develop and evolve their businesses.”
Government removes barriers to radio stations going digital H
undreds of small radio stations across the UK are to receive a helping hand to broadcast in digital for the first time, as
the Government announces new measures to make it easier for smaller community and commercial radio stations to broadcast on small scale digital radio multiplexes. Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries Margot James said:
“We are breaking down one of the main barriers in the transition of radio from analogue to digital, to secure long-term benefits for the UK’s smaller commercial and community stations and ensure a range of local content for listeners. “No one should be left behind by technological advances, so as part of our modern Industrial Strategy we will give small and local radio businesses affordable, practical access to digital radio networks to reach new and longstanding audiences.” The roll out of small scale multiplexes across the UK could help more than 450 existing small community or commercial radio stations go digital. Since 2014, Ofcom have been supporting successful trials of small scale radio multiplexes in ten areas of the UK. These trial multiplexes now
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to tackle this potentially lucrative area and become a focal point for all the different parts of the Hughes Electrical Group when they have such an opportunity.” Mark Sparrow and his team will control all tender documents, monitor
for opportunities to tender, research and approach potential customers in relevant business areas, support the extensive Hughes branch network and be responsible for attending national trade shows. Paul Chisnall added: “As a business we already have a successful
record of winning tenders going back to the 2012 Olympics. But there are an increasing number of business opportunities out there and to succeed in winning them we need to make sure tender documents are completed in the most professional way possible. It is a specialist skill set which is why we have taken this step. “As a company we are growing very quickly, for example earlier this
year we acquired Armstrong Commercial Laundry meaning we are a major player in another market sector which can now be supported by our new contracts team.”
carry around 160 small radio services offering listeners in these areas a broader range of content and formats. To put these small scale services on a proper long-term footing, the
Government is revising the current legal framework for licensing radio multiplexes - originally drawn up in the mid-1990s. The new framework will allow Ofcom to reserve capacity on new small scale multiplexes for community stations, helping them to go live on the Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) platform. Digital Radio UK chief executive Ford Ennals commented: “We
welcome today’s announcement from DCMS supporting the future development and expansion of small-scale DAB. This is good news for radio and good news for listeners as the expansion of small-scale DAB gives listeners a wider range of smaller stations available on DAB and gives small local stations a path to a digital future. “Following the success of the fantastic range of unique and fresh local commercial and community services in the 10 trial areas we can expect to see many hundreds of local stations joining radio’s digital revolution across the UK.”
October / November 2018
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